Legalising International Trade in Rhino Horn ???

[H. erectus]

"poach" themselves

Currently, what I believe to be a very dark area!!!!,
and not only private ownership of these beasts.

[Richprins]

It is a very dark area! Some hold on to their horns, either natural deaths or dehorning/farming, waiting for legalisation. Others have already started miss-reporting deaths as poaching, but only on a small scale so far due to official reports?

If legalisation does not come, what's stopping all remaining from getting rid of their stocks on the black market then?

[Dewi]

If legalisation does not come, what's stopping all remaining from getting rid of their stocks on the black market then?

Call me a cynical old git, but they will be worth a helluva lot more if they can hold on to their stockpiles until the Rhino become either extinct or so low in numbers that poaching stops for lack of animals to poach. Then it won't matter if it's legalised or not. They will be able to name their price

[H. erectus]

Still remains to be a farcical scenario with no long term
affirmation of success..

[Dewi]

Agreed H.

[Mel]

Stop all wildlife trade in South Africa: iLIVE
Julien Crowther | 25 June, 2013 14:03

The crisis in rhino poaching has reached the point at which the population cannot sustain the onslaught. Each year the numbers cruelly slaughtered for their horns has risen and this year the number is likely to reach 1000.

The government has stood idly by, tinkering with Memoranda of Understanding, or adjusting the numbers of hunting permits, while doing nothing to stop poaching.

Meanwhile, the propaganda in favour of legal trade in rhino horn has gathered pace, ready for the next CITES meeting in 2016, when South Africa is likely to put trade on the table.

Trade in all endangered species such as rhino, elephant, and lions must be stopped before it is too late, and these iconic species exist only on rhino farms, canned lion establishments and zoos.

South Africa derives far more income from tourism than from hunting or rhino farming, but this is likely to decrease severely in future years when it has become clear there are no more animals left in the wild.

The illegal trade in wildlife parts is on a par with drug or people trafficking, and is the main driver of terrorism in many parts of the world.

[Sprocky]

South Africa derives far more income from tourism than from hunting or rhino farming, but this is likely to decrease severely in future years when it has become clear there are no more animals left in the wild.

Once again, this is where SANParks should come to the party and stop handing out school learning centres, which is actually a .gov departments duty which we all pay tax for.

The illegal trade in wildlife parts is on a par with drug or people trafficking, and is the main driver of terrorism in many parts of the world.

This Rhino war has already encroached on terrorism!!

[Toko]

Minister Edna Molewa briefs the media on Cabinet approval of the rhino trade proposal for consideration at CITES CoP17 in 2016

03 July 2013



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media,

South Africa is a Party and founding member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a trade convention that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The aim of the convention aligns with, and reinforces the principle of sustainable utilisation, which is enshrined in the Constitution and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act as an integral part of biodiversity conservation.

Due to sustainable utilisation and adaptive management practices, South Africa has developed and maintained a proud conservation record, and communities have contributed to the conservation of species while benefiting financially from the restoration and protection of species. Ironically, the very success of our national conservation effort which has resulted in over 73% of the worlds’ Rhino population being conserved in our country has, in turn, resulted in South Africa being targeted by international criminal Rhino poaching syndicates.

South Africa is committed to further enhance its role as a global conservation leader and strengthen its role in influencing decisions and decision making processes of CITES parties to ensure that this trade convention fulfils all its objectives.

The on-going illegal killing of rhino has highlighted the need to take action in terms of addressing demand for rhino horn. In March this year, we were part of the 2 000 delegates from 178 countries at the 16th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Thailand.

Prior to our departure to the CITES COP 16 we launched an international discussion on the future of South Africa’s rhino population, particularly the issue of legal trade in rhino horn, or not. During the COP, South Africa engaged various countries on the issue of rhino conservation, rhino security and rhino trade.

The establishment of a well-regulated international trade could assist in this regard, if implemented in conjunction with all the other interventions to curb rhino poaching.

To this end, Cabinet approved the development and submission of a proposal to the 17th conference of parties to CITES, scheduled to take place in 2016 in South Africa, to introduce regulated international trade in rhino horn. This decision is informed by recognition of the contribution of biodiversity to our country’s sustainable development imperatives. Furthermore during the 16th COP to CITES, discussions relating to a possible trade, as an integral part of South Africa’s long term conservation strategy for rhinos, were initiated.

We will have to work in partnership with stakeholders and experts to ensure a feasible model for trade is proposed at the next CoP in South Africa, with due consideration of all the views expressed by interested and affected stakeholders in rhino conservation. Our appeal is that this should not be viewed in isolation from all our endeavours to save our rhinos.

South Africa cannot continue to be held hostage by the syndicates slaughtering our rhinos. We do have the ability to make this scarce resource available without impacting on the species, through the implementation of a regulated trade system. In addition, this will assist us in further promoting the conservation of the species and growing the population in South Africa and other range States.

Our government recognizes the role of the private sector and the NGO community in the protection of this valuable heritage and commit to working together with all partners in maintaining our successful conservation history.

The total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 461.

For more information on the latest statistics, please click on the link below:

Rhino poaching update – 3 July 2013

For media queries contact:

Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871

[Toko]

Regulated rhino horn trade could help curb poaching - Molewa

03-7-2013
Pretoria – Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa says the establishment of a well-regulated international trade in rhino horn could help to curb rhino poaching, if implemented in conjunction with all the other interventions to root out the practice.

“We will have to work in partnership with stakeholders and experts to ensure a feasible model for trade is proposed at the next COP [to CITES] in South Africa, with due consideration of all the views expressed by interested and affected stakeholders in rhino conservation,” said Molewa during a briefing on Wednesday.

Cabinet has approved the development and submission of a proposal to the 17th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), scheduled to take place in 2016 in South Africa, to introduce regulated international trade in rhino horn.

Molewa said discussions on a possible legal trade, as part of South Africa’s long-term conservation strategy for rhinos, were initiated at the 16th COP to CITES.

The minister said South Africa had the means to make rhino horn available without impacting on the species, and the implementation of a regulated trade system would help to achieve that.

Speaking at the same briefing, the Deputy Director-General: Biodiversity and Conservation at the Department of Environmental Affairs, Fundisile Mketeni, said government rhino horn stockpiles stood at 16 437kg, while private sector stockpiles were 2 091kg.

While the proposal for the sale of rhino horn is yet to be finalised, Mketeni said the money made from rhino horn would be used for conservation, research and community participation.

“We need to go and clear the stock we have. We would like to sell the horns as a whole. It will depend on the trading partner because they know better [where] there is demand. What we seek to address now is the black market, which [has] demand because there is usage out there,” Mketeni said.

Park fence

Meanwhile, Molewa said South Africa was still working closely with neighbouring Mozambique on the issue of re-erecting the park fence in a bid to stop poachers from entering the country.

When the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park was officially declared in 2002, 20 metres of the fence separating the Kruger National Park (KNP) from the Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique was cut down.

Many rhino poachers are believed to enter South Africa from Mozambique in the area where the border fence between KNP and LNP was removed to allow the development of the multi-national the park.

KNP has borne the brunt of rhino poaching, and Mozambique is also experiencing a problem of elephant poaching.

Molewa said Mozambique has reported that they have funding available to begin moving communities who are still residing in the park.

“Our plan was to re-erect the fence when there [was no one living there]. The agreement was that those communities must be removed and Mozambique now has funding by international donors to remove these communities,” said Molewa.

She said there was commitment from both parties to re-erect the fence. – SAnews.gov.za

[Richprins]

Speaking at the same briefing, the Deputy Director-General: Biodiversity and Conservation at the Department of Environmental Affairs, Fundisile Mketeni, said government rhino horn stockpiles stood at 16 437kg, while private sector stockpiles were 2 091kg.

While the proposal for the sale of rhino horn is yet to be finalised, Mketeni said the money made from rhino horn would be used for conservation, research and community participation.

“We need to go and clear the stock we have. We would like to sell the horns as a whole. It will depend on the trading partner because they know better [where] there is demand. What we seek to address now is the black market, which [has] demand because there is usage out there,” Mketeni said.


It sounds good to me! Except they already have a ready partner, as per previous announcements, which I believe to be China! Also I think private stockpiles are a lot more!

Even though the proposal is for 2016, it will certainly give an immediate boost to rhino farmers who are thinking of not farming rhino anymore, and an urgent application can also be brought before that date.

Also, it sends a message to poachers.